Name, age, hometown: James Jeffrey Charrette, 21, Los Angeles.
What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? I am the timpanist for the Santa Clara Vanguard.

James Charrette

Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I am a percussion performance major at UCLA.
Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. Four years El Dorado High School Marching band, Yamato '02 and '03, Esperanza '04, Santa Clara Vanguard '05.
What's your personal practice schedule like? All the time -- I had a junior recital on Feb. 10. Ugh!
What does your ideal free day consist of? Chilling out in a movie theater – ahhh, air conditioning!
Favorite pig-out food: Any and all.
In the shower you can hear me singing: "Phantom of the Opera"
The last good book I read: Does my Spanish 3 textbook count? No? Darn!
The last great film I saw: Hmm -- I haven't had time for movies in a while. I'd have to say "Big Fish" -- I missed it in theaters and saw it on DVD.
Jobs I have/have had: Pit instructor at Beverly Hills High School -- that's it.
My favorite TV show: "Family Guy"
What has been your formative drum corps moment? Last years's finals with Vanguard was intense. I've never been a part of that kind of energy coming off the field. It was amazing, just watch the DVD.
What would you be doing next summer if you were not marching? Seeing as I won't be marching since I'm an ageout, I would say that I have no idea -- at all.
How did you decide to be a member of your corps? There's a story to it, but basically my friends told me to.
What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? My pit teacher Susan Willmering got me to march Yamato's pit and I've been stuck ever since.
What advice would you give to young people who want to march? Just do it! Find a corps with cool people and instructors and work your butt off!
What I want to be when I "grow up": A good percussionist. That might be a joke, or it might be real -- I'm not sure exactly.
Favorite drum corps personality and why: My new favorite is Brian Mason, our pit instructor. He's awesome. Oh, and he's a good teacher too.
Best drum corps show ever and why: Vanguard '89 -- wow.
The year is 2030. What does a DCI show look like? I'm not sure, but it involves rocket packs and lasers. Definitely lasers. If there's not going to be lasers then I quit now.
Feel free to add anything else you'd like. Just a heads up: SCV pit is going to rock this year. Seriously. That's not a joke or anything. See, this is my serious face: (*_*)